Fire incidents on ships rank among the most frequent accidents, and in recent years, fire incidents have specially increased among container and ro-ro cargo/passenger ships.
And DNV has supported many cases of post-fire structural and material assessments.
The incidents have ranged from isolated small-scale fires in cargo holds to major fires damaging the complete ship. Continue reading “DNV shares insights into post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment”
Engineering claims rarely begin with a complete picture, says Brookes Bell. More often, they start with partial evidence, damaged components, and an initial explanation of what may have gone wrong. In practice, those early assumptions are not always reliable.
For Andrew Kingshott, recognising and managing this uncertainty is a fundamental part of the investigation process. Continue reading “Brookes Bell on engineering analysis when the answer isn’t clear”
NorthStandard P&I Club has provided essential information about the potential vulnerabilities and limitations of mass flow meters (MFMs) in bunkering operations, providing key tips for operators to avoid any complications.
As explained by Alvin Forster, Senior Loss Prevention Executive – Americas & UK, NorthStandard, although mass flow meters are designed to improve accuracy and reduce disputes, they are not immune to manipulation. Documented cases in Singapore showed the use of strong magnets placed on sensors to distort readings, resulting in inflated recorded deliveries and significant financial fraud. Continue reading “Best practices to avoid complications of mass flow meters”
The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued a circular to reinforce mandatory safety requirements and operational controls related to electrical hazards onboard vessels, with particular emphasis on the use, handling, relocation, and isolation of portable electrical equipment.
A number of very serious marine casualties involving fatal electrocution demonstrate that routine shipboard activities can present significant electrical risks when energized equipment is handled without adequate isolation, inspection, Continue reading “Ensure the SMS adequately addresses electrical hazards”
Recent cases have highlighted growing safety and operational concerns linked to the carriage of baled Refuse Derived Fuel, as increasing trade volumes continue to expose its variable—and at times hazardous—behaviour at sea, the Swedish Club has warned.
Refuse Derived Fuel is produced from mixed municipal and commercial waste after sorting and removal of non‑combustible materials. The remaining fraction can contain a significant biodegradable component and often varies considerably in composition. Continue reading “Key risks in the carriage of baled Refuse Derived Fuel”
The UK MCA has released an amendment to MGN 708(M), which sets out guidance and instructions regarding International Safety Management and the application of the Merchant Shipping International Safety Management Regulations 2026.
This notice replaces the 2014 ISM regulations and assimilated regulations 336/2006 in implementing the ISM code in UK law.
It also addresses certain gaps which arose in the previous legislation as a result of the UK leaving the EU, Continue reading “MCA update on MGN 708(M) Guidance on the merchant shipping ISM regulations”
The volume of seaborne cement trade continues to grow, with the most recent annual figure estimated to be over 145 million tonnes, however, the carriage of cement on conventional bulk carriers presents significant operational challenges, Britannia P&I Club explains.
According to Britannia P&I Club, bulk cement is typically carried on dedicated cement carriers or standard bulk carriers. On dedicated carriers, cement is loaded from shore silos through a pneumatic system and discharged via a closed self-unloading system, where compressed air fluidizes the cargo and a vacuum pipeline transfers it to shore—effectively minimizing dust and preventing hardening. In comparison, loading cement on conventional bulk carriers, whether in bulk or in bags, remains a much more challenging operation. Continue reading “Key considerations for the carriage of cement”
A new, peer-reviewed study conducted by University College London’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with RAD, a UK-based electric marine propulsion company, examined underwater radiated noise across a range of operating speeds, comparing electric and conventional boats. Their aim? To discover if electric boats really are quieter.
The study, titled ‘A comparative study of underwater radiated noise from electric and conventional boats’, is published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA). It was conducted by UCL’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with RAD, a UK-based electric marine propulsion company. Continue reading “A comparative study of underwater radiated noise from electric and conventional boats”
The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has published new safety guidelines to support the safe operation of wind-assisted ships, those using wind-assisted propulsion systems, as the shipping industry increasingly adopts technologies aimed at reducing fuel use and emissions.
The guidelines provide recommendations for developing and implementing safety management systems tailored to vessels equipped with wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS), including rotor sails, suction sails and wing sails. Continue reading “Safety guidelines for wind-assisted ships issued by MTF”
In edition 2 of the “Lithium-ion Battery Fires: What We Know So Far”, the Maritime Professional Council of the UK (MPC) warns of the rising risks and dangers of lithium-ion battery fires to ships, boats and their crews.
The maritime industry faces increasing incidents and fires due to lithium-ion technology, particularly with the growing use of electric vehicles (EVs) and a myriad of devices powered by these batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density, making them efficient but also prone to catastrophic failures if mishandled. Continue reading “Lithium-ion Battery Fires: What We Know So Far – edition 2 published”
The International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) has sent out a warning of the consequences of deregulation and competition in maritime pilotage.
Maritime pilotage is a public, not commercial, service that exists for safety of navigation — protecting people, the environment and trade. IMPA said some jurisdictions are tempted by the idea that deregulation and competition deliver a better service at a lower cost. This is a mistake, and the evidence agrees. Continue reading “IMPA warns of risks of deregulation in maritime pilotage”
A new standard on in-water cleaning of vessel hulls has been launched.
Preventing and removing biofouling on hulls of ships limits the introduction and spread of invasive aquatic species (IAS). This in turn threatens coastal environments by disrupting ecological systems, which can also negatively affect fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Biofouling is also estimated to increase a ship’s fuel consumption by on average 9 % – this added fuel consumption costs the shipping industry billions of USD. Therefore, improving biofouling management across the global shipping fleet will have considerable benefits, both from an environmental and economic standpoint. Continue reading “New ISO standard for in-water hull cleaning published”
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